The Federal Government has approved the implementation of a dual-mandate structure allowing Federal Colleges of Education to award both the National Certificate in Education and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education.
This policy shift follows the revision of the Act governing FCOEs, which was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, made this known during a strategic engagement meeting with staff unions and management of the colleges, where he outlined the government’s plans for implementing the Dual Mandate and reforming teacher training across the country.
Speaking at the meeting, Alausa stressed the urgent need to reform how teachers are trained and how the teaching profession is perceived in society. He called for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to restore dignity to the profession and ensure its alignment with global education standards.
A statement released by the Minister on his official X handle reads: “I was pleased to hold a strategic engagement with the staff unions and management of our Federal Colleges of Education.
“As part of our objective to enhance teacher training and improve education as a whole, we are moving forward with the revised Act governing our FCOEs. This Act, approved by Mr President #officialABAT in 2023, now permits the colleges to award both the National Certificate in Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.
“As Mr. President says, ‘The youth are the heartbeat of our great nation.’ The heart is the most critical organ in the human body, and for it to function at its highest capacity, our students must be well educated and effectively taught.”
The Minister further emphasised the need for a paradigm shift in educational methods and the broader perception of the teaching profession, stating: “During the meeting, I emphasized that the way we educate our students must evolve. The old methods are no longer effective in today’s society. We must adapt to meet international standards if we are to succeed.
“The narrative around becoming a teacher—and the teaching profession more broadly—must also change. There must be mutual respect among teachers, students, academics, and parents. Teaching is a valuable profession; without teachers and educators, societies would not be what they are today. They are integral to nation-building and the transformation of this great country.”
Alausa assured that the Federal Ministry of Education, working alongside critical stakeholders such as the National Universities Commission, the National Commission for Colleges of Education, and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, is committed to ensuring the new degree-awarding mandate begins in the 2025/2026 academic session, starting in September.
“The Ministry is committed to ensuring that the Dual Mandate takes effect by the upcoming academic year, starting in September 2025. We are actively engaging with the #OfficialNUC, the #NCCEHQR, and #JAMBHQ to ensure that each body fulfills its role in implementing the Dual Mandate provision,” the Minister stated.
